Rear-axle construction



F. RICHARD.

REAR AXLE CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION HLED JAN. 15. 1917.

Pat-emfi Apr. 20, 1929.

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Patented @1220, 1920.

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FRANQGIS RICHARD, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGIQ'OR TO THE RICHARD AUTO MFG. GGMPANY, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

REAR-AXLE CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed January 15, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, l nsngors RICHARD, a citizen of the nrench Republic, residing at city of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of @hio, have invented a new and useful lmprovement in Rear-Axle Construction, of which tne following is a specification, the principle of the invention be1ng herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

This invention relates to a rear axle construction adapted to be employed. in an automobile.

My object has been to so design, proportion and connect certain essential parts as to effect a stronger unit and more durable whole, to insure correct alinement at all times hence perfect the general balance and consequently improve the running qualities of the superstructure of the vehicle.

l leretofore, some rear axle constructions. have been compelled to carry the load through the medium of break joints. Nearly all of he rear axle constructions till now used have had the near ends of the inclos ing sleeves terminate nearer the wheels than the drii lug shaft or at all events did not approach ach other as closely as possible, and were not separately supported at such near ends. Such a condition created a de formity at the middle of the axle which distorted the axle housing out of alinement causing the driving shaft to bind and fre quently to break. The attendant friction and loss of power during the prevalence of such a concition is clear but whether evident or not, has 11 var before been remedied. My invention in contradistinction comprehends the prolongation of such near ends and the nlln and rigid support of each at its inner extremity.

In consequence, the load 1s properly and uniformly sustained against both tension and compression witn the result of insuring the maintenance of perfect alinement of all the parts at all times and under all eventualities.

WVith the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists of the novel con struction, combination and arran ement of parts as hereinafter more speci cally described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr.20,1920.

Serial No. 142,479.

that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

Adverting to the drawing:

Figure l is a sectioned partial assembly of the rear differential drive of an automobile equipped after the manner of this invention.

Fig. ll is a section of a rear axle structure embodying the distinctive feature.

Fig. Ill is a diagrammatic view showing the location and character of stresses to be encountered.

It has been deemed advisable to illustrate, as appears on Sheet 1, enough of the differential uriving mechanism commonly employed in automobiles to make clear the relation of n y invention thereto and in what manner the professed advantages thereof ray be achieved. It may be well to premise :urther by mentioning a prevailing condinon with which all automobile manufao turers are familiar, namely, that the jolts, vrenches tilts and vibrations to which the rear axle and its driving mechanism, and hence the supporting structure for both are regularly subjected, makes a very severe de' mand for a strong and rigid interconnection therebetween. More specifically, the strains encountered by the supporting structure for this type of divided rear axle are peculiar because of the excessive tendency to distort roan proper position such parts as are paced apart in an axial direction. With ach repetition of such distortion the disorder is likely to become greater, so that ,ntually a disalinement and consequent deviation from perfect balance ensues. It is precisely this which my invention is purposed to resist and with measurable success, is positively evidenced when the entire rear of the vehicle is jacked-up because the evenness of the bearings of both rear wheels has been so well maintained that each may 0 rotated by hand without rotating the other.

Obviously, the efficiency in the way of lessened loss of power and smoother transmission of power is augmented in corre sponding degree.

Pursuant to the foregoing, the detailed description will be confined to only such mechanism and parts as are necessary toan understanding of my invention and the way in which it may be practised regardless of or was the form and character of the other connected and coacting parts which appear in Fig. I and some also in Fi 11.

A difierential gear housing 1 carries, firmly attached to it on opposite sides, tapering continuations 2 and 3 respectively, which are then supported in any approved manner equal distances from the longitudinal middle of the automobile upon springs l. Operatively connected with the housing laterally beyond each of the springs 4: is a brake drum 5 and a pneumatically tired wheel 6. Inasmuch as nothing new is claimed for the method 01 mounting of any of these parts no further description thereof is thought necessary. According to the exemplification of the drawings the axle is supported at each of its ends such that its outer end rests upon ball bearings 7 in both Figs. I and H; whereas its inner end is supported on ball bearings 8 seen only in Fig. l and which are carried interiorly of the Cllfiil 'tofore, such a sleeve has surrounded the outer end of axles of this character, that is, at a point where the wheel is car-inch, and has then extended inwardly only as far or a little beyond the point of support upon the springs. It will he noticed that this sleeve 12 is according to my invention extended further toward the middle so that its inner extremity 13 may be firmly fitted in a socket 14 provided in the bracket 9 as may be clearly een in H. In consequence of such an arrangement during the application of any given load, with its resultant strains, the latter become more uniformly distributed and the whole structure stiffened and ield to a prod termined balanco along its axial extent thereby achieving the advantages which I claim. The arrangement on the opposite side is identical with that ust described with the QXCQPJiOD of a slight difference in the shape of its supporting bracket 15, owing to the fact that the drive from the propeller shaft is not communicated adjacent to it.

The diagrammatic view depicted in Fig. III should aid. in'understanding the principle involved. From an inspection thereof it will be'noticed that the remote extremities of the axles rests upon the pair of supports 4, whereas the load may be considered as applied above and in the middle, all as suggested by the three arrows. During the wrenching of the whole, while in use, what may be considered as the tw upper compression members 2 and 3 and the two lower or tension members 2 and '3 will be measurablyrelieved in respect to the severity of duty which each has heretofore been required to perform, because of the added support furnished at the four arrows at the middle.

I claim:

1. A rear axle construction comprising a housing, driving means therein, a roller hearing at one end thereof, a bracket carried therein near said driving means and provided'with a socket, another roller hearing carried by said bracket, axle opera.- tively connected with said driving means and mounted in said heari gs, and a sleeve add'tionally supporting said fir t mentioned bearing and fitted in said socket iereby to stiffen said'bearings in relation to the whole.

A rear axle construction comprising'an axle, roller bearing units supporting opposite end portions thereof, and a slee e supporting opposite sides of said units with reference to the axis of the whole, said sleeve extending along substantially the entire length of, and having its ends attached to said bearing units so as to be spaced from said axle.

A rear axle construction comprising a housing, driving means therein, a bracket adjacent said driving means, roller be. jngs carried by said housing and bracket, ca tle operatively connected with said driving means and rotatableagainst said bearings, and sleeve having one end interposed tween said housing bearing and axle and having its other end secured to said bracxct.

i. A rear axle construction comprising a housing adapted to be sun orted by wheels at each er d, dii'i'erential driving means within and near the middle thereof, axles connecting said wheels and driving means, pair oi brackets Sl A v "ted within said housing on opposite sides of said driving means, and a pair of sleeves each supported its opposite ends upon said. tckets and wheels respectirely'so as to and and be spaced from said axles, the 1*] support furnished Adi 1'55 ior the inner'ends of said sleeves being adapted to reinforce and more uniformly sustain the loads both of tension'and com pression. V

Signed by me, this 1917.

FRANQOIS RICHARD.

5th day of January,

llO 

